A LITTLE more than a year ago it appeared that the Kingsteignton Youth Centre had reached the end of the road, having fallen victim to Devon County Council’s swingeing cuts and closed without notice to the centre’s trust.

A legal agreement was in place for county to run the youth service for ten years from 2007 with the lease rent free – a trust had opened the centre in 1968 and ran it until the county took over – but the agreement went out of the window when the axe fell.

Determined to re-open the centre in the town’s Broadway Road, the trust – the town council is now the trustee – regained possession of the property in December and worked tirelessly to get the doors open again.

The trustees appointed a management committee to renovate, re-equip, service and redecorate the property, and to have a part-time youth leader and have it open as quickly as possible.

Now the whole building has been refurbished at a cost of £18,000 by the committee consisting of chairman Cllr Beryl Austen, secretary Sue Rollason, treasurer and town mayor Cllr Dave Rollason, Cllr Ron Peart, town clerk Carol Lakin and youth leader Michelle Whatty.

‘They have all given their assistance unstintingly in time and effort during the past nine months in order to re-open and oversee the running of this very valuable local asset,’ said Cllr Austen.

On Tuesday the centre held its first annual meeting since the launch of the new club at the start of the year.

Cllr Austen added that the committee had paid all current expenses and outgoings to date from grants, bookings and donations and have in hand sufficient funding to run the youth centre for the ensuing year to 2017.

Thanks went to the Foyle Foundation for its £5,000 gift to help the centre re-open, the town council for its grant and the Kingsteignton Post Meridian WI which celebrated the WI’s centenary and its own 45th birthday by donating a dartboard and karaoke equipment to the youth club.

Currently the club opens on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and has three groups – seven-11 years, 11-14 years and 14-18 years.

Volunteers are always required and are asked to contact Ms Whatty at the centre on 01626 351974.